BID To Reverse Refusal Of Port Glasgow Housing Plan Succeeds

1 February, 2023 | Local, Planning

COUNCILLORS have overturned refusal of a plan to build houses in Port Glasgow.

In 2021, Inverclyde Council officials rejected the proposal to develop the site of the former Carnegie Park Orphanage/ Langlands School, beside Port Glasgow Cemetery on the hillside above Glasgow Road.

Planners decided against the development saying it would breach a number of planning policies. Reasons for refusal included loss of native woodland and habitat and difficulties over creating road access.

The applicant appealed and Inverclyde’s Local Review Body has now reversed the officials’ decision and given permission.

The proposal is for five detached houses, each with four bedrooms, large gardens, integral garages and driveways. The application sought permission for the principle of residential development which means further consent will be needed for detailed designs and arrangements.

The applicant’s appeal statement had argued: “Only 0.09 per cent of Inverclyde’s Native Woodland could be removed as a result of this development, but significant improvement and enhancement can be brought to the remaining woodland as a result of the proposals.

“The applicant and design team genuinely consider that this is a proposal that should be acceptable in principle and that all elements of technical detail can be developed to the agreement of the council.

“Refusing the PPP [planning permission in principle] in this case suggests it would be impossible to ever make this proposal work, and this is simply not the case.”

The statement continued that the applicant would work with the council to “bring forward an exemplar development” with wide-ranging benefits, including:

• Providing private housing to support challenging housing land targets.

• Focus development on previously developed (ie brownfield) land.

• Introduce a planting and management plan to ensure significant biodiversity benefits.

• Allow new residents and the general public to enjoy and use the managed woodland.

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